A record 706 people died due to drug abuse last year in Scotland, a 15 per cent rise over 2014, according to latest official figures.
A total of 706 people died as a result of drug abuse in 2015 - the largest number ever recorded, according to a report by the National Records of Scotland.
It represents a 15 per cent increase on the figure for 2014, when 613 people died.
The number of drug deaths in Scotland have been steadily increasing since 1995, when 426 deaths were recorded.
The report also reveals the effect of drug abuse on older users - almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of deaths were among people aged over 35.
Other findings include: Heroin and morphine were implicated in the deaths of almost half (49 per cent) of drug users - more than ever before and new psychoactive substances (NPS) - formally known as "legal highs" - potentially contributed to 74 deaths, up from 62 in 2014;
Men made up 69 per cent of drugs deaths in 2015, the BBC reported.
The Scottish government said the health risks posed by older drug users was a "key challenge" for Scotland.
Aileen Campbell, the minister for public health, said ageing drug users were experiencing increasingly poor health.
"This is a legacy of Scotland's drug misuse which stretches back decades," she added.
"We remain committed to tackling the scourge of illegal drugs and the damage they do to our communities, and to support those who are struggling with addiction."
A spokeswoman for Addaction Scotland said the group was "deeply concerned" about drugs death trends.
She highlighted a reduction in the number of fixed site needle exchanges, which are often users' entry point for treatment.
She added: "The situation of increasing drug related deaths is not helped by the uncertainty of current and future funding of services.
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